Civil society versus captured state: a winning strategy for sustainable change. Issue 5 (3rd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lutsevych, Orysia
• Is Part Of: Development in practice. Volume 26:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 646
• Page End: 656
• Publication Date: 2016-07-03
• Subjects: Civil society -- Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS; Technical assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; 338.91091724
• DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2016.1188885
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-4524

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In the West, Ukraine is known as country of wasted potential, and most recently the scene of a proxy war between the West and Russia. What is often missing in the analysis is that, internally, the country faces serious nation- and state-building challenges. These call for development of institutions, values, and behaviours that could sustain an open democratic system of governance. A strong and sustainable civil society is an integral part of such a system. In 2013 a popular uprising toppled the corrupt regime of Victor Yanukovych. This triggered the Russian annexation of Crimea and unleashed a violent separatist movement in Ukraine's industrial heartland, the Donbass. Since 2014 Ukraine has been both under external attack and simultaneously trying to reform its corrupt and captured political system.